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Sports Agenda for Thursday (2/14/12)

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Mario Chalmers #15 of the Miami Heat brings the ball up court against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 12, 2013 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2013 (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

Big Story:
It’s Valentine’s day, so we’ll show a little love to Heat and the Hurricanes. A few NFL tidbits. A Missouri update, just because, and what happens when NBA teams start the All-Star Break before finishing their final game.

Quote of the Day:
“It is difficult to know at what moment love begins; it is less difficult to know that it has begun.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Heat: (vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m., TNT)
So how good are the Heat heading into the All-Star Break?
We’ll find out tonight against one of the best teams in the Western Conference, the Thunder.
We’ll also see if LeBron can keep the streak alive against the best team he’s faced during his ridiculous streak of 30+ points and 60% or better shooting.
The big talk yesterday was comparing him to Michael Jordan.
So, I broke it down by the numbers: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/02/13/king-james-vs-air-jordan-by-the-numbers/
The results?
Well, Jordan was the more prolific scorer by about four-five points a game, but LeBron is the better rebounder and passer.
What does it all mean?
No one can argue that Michael Jordan is the best player in a generation.
I say that because we can’t forget about how dominant players like Kareem, Wilt, and Bill Russell were during their day.
LeBron is the best player today. Period. End of story.
So who would you rather build a team around?
That’s a lot harder to answer.
Take both in their prime and it’s really tough to answer.
I think LeBron offers more from a team point of view, but Jordan is Jordan and could will you to victory kinda like LeBron did against Boston last year.
They’re different players at different positions, but both are the greatest in their eras and if you had to choose either, it’s a win-win scenario.
Who would I pick?
That’s a toughy, I’ve seen both of them play in person, and even though I think LeBron will probably end up better than MJ, I’d probably take Jordan at this point in time. That’s not taking anything away from LeBron, I’d be happy picking him too. Like I said, win-win with either guy.

Miami Hurricanes: (Off)
The Canes stayed perfect in the ACC with a 6 point win on the road against FSU.
I’m not sure if it’s sinking in with Canes fans how good this team has become.
They’re undefeated in ACC play.
Stop and think about that for a second.
The ACC is annually one of the toughest basketball conferences in America, along with the Big East and Big Ten.
Miami is undefeated and dominating teams in conference play.
True, the ACC is down this year, but don’t let that take anything away from Miami.
In fact, if I had to seed the NCAA Tournament right now, I’m not sure I wouldn’t have Miami as the number one overall seed. All due respect to Indiana.
It’s building up to a massive game at the beginning of March at Duke.
Beating Duke at your place is good, blowing them off the court at your house is better, beating them in front of the Cameron Crazies…that’s awesome.
And I’ll say this, I’m not betting against this team right now as long as everyone is healthy.
I just don’t see a glaring weakness with these guys.
They’re winning, winning on the road, winning big, winning ugly, as Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders said, “Just win baby.”

Mizzou:
And just because Mizzou FINALLY won a road game last night in the SEC….I’m including them in here today.
Not only did they win, they absolutely mauled Mississippi State.
The final score was 78-36 at Starkville.
Yes, a 42-point road victory.
Mississippi State had 10 points at halftime. 10.
Wow, just wow.
It’s not that mizzou is that good, but dadgum Mississippi State is really, REALLY awful.
Can we schedule the bulldogs for the rest of our road games this year?

NBA Update:
Speaking of ugly….
Check out these FINAL scores from Wednesday night in the NBA.
Boston Celtics 71 – Chicago Bulls 69
New Orleands 99 – Portland 63
GUH!
I mean you have to try to be that bad as a professional.
63 points…in a game?!?!
Portland shot 32% from the field…32%!
I know the all-star break is here, but c’mon man, you gotta finish strong…they, well, they didn’t.
By the way, speaking of the All-Star Break….watch the Slam Dunk Contest…it should be WILD!

Dolphins/NFL:
It’s very quiet around the NFL, but several mock drafts have linked the Dolphins to wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.
I say, NO!
Look, the chances of you hitting on a wide receiver in the first round not named Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, or Larry Fitzgerald is slim.
Patterson, if memory serves me, only started one year at Tennessee and is total projection at this point.
I’d be much happier burning through some cap space for the combination of Mike Wallace and Greg Jennings as wideouts and addressing other areas in the draft.
I’d also take any combination of Wallace, Jennings, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker, and Brian Hartline.
Let’s face it, if they let Jake Long go, maybe it’s worth it to trade up to get someone like Luke Joeckel?
Probably not, because the fans here would likely riot with another first round offensive lineman.
Just remember, wide receivers are deep in this class and there is no one who stands out above like a Calvin Johnson, Moss, or Fitzgerald.